Paralegal - Employment Law

Phelps Dunbar LLP; Flowood (MS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Phelps Dunbar LLP is seeking an Employment Law Paralegal to support a fast-paced Labor and Employment practice under attorney supervision. The role focuses on organizing case files, conducting interviews, and handling discovery, ESI, and deposition coordination in Federal and State civil litigation.

The ideal candidate has strong MS Office skills, proficiency with document management systems, and experience with litigation support tools such as Westlaw.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; four-year degree and paralegal certificate preferred.
• Two years litigation experience required; three years preferred; ability to manage complex litigation with current technology.

Responsibilities

• Organize and maintain files from inception to completion.
• Conduct factual investigations and interviews for discovery preparation.
• Assist in drafting answers to interrogatories and responses to production requests and manage ESI.
• Coordinate depositions and summarize depositions, records and testimony.
• Draft pleadings and filings in Federal and State civil litigation.
• Support trial prep with exhibits, demonstratives, and witnesses.
• Verify case citations via Westlaw for accuracy.
• Interact with government officials, courts, and clients.
• Maintain attorney calendars and deadlines.
• Record time for billable and nonbillable matters per firm policy.

Skills

MS Office

Document management

Litigation support software

Time management

Organizational skills

Proofreading

Westlaw

Education

High school diploma or GED

Paralegal certificate preferred

Four-year college degree preferred

Tools

Westlaw

Job description

Phelps Dunbar LLP is an AmLaw 200 full-service law firm. The Employment Law Paralegal will perform various substantive legal duties in a fast-paced Labor and Employment environment under the supervision and direction of the attorneys in the practice group.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Organize and maintain files from the inception of the case through the completion.
• Conduct factual investigations and interviews to identify key parties, related issues and relevant documents for the preparation of discovery.
• Assist in the preparation of answers to interrogatories and responses to requests for production of documents and other discovery requests, including the production and management of electronically stored information (ESI).
• Coordinate depositions of parties requested by attorneys.
• Summarize and organize depositions, records and testimony utilizing litigation support technology tools.
• Draft various pleadings and filings in Federal and State level civil litigation.
• Assist with all aspects of case litigation, trial preparation including identifying and marking exhibits for motions, position papers, mediation depositions and trial.
• Verify case citations in briefs for current validity and accuracy through Westlaw.
• Interact with various government and court officials as well as with clients.
• Maintain attorney calendars with case deadlines.
• Assist in trial with exhibits, demonstrative aids and witnesses.
• Record time for billable and nonbillable matters and meet firm billing requirements in accordance with Firm policies.
• Perform other duties as required.

Education and Experience Required:

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required. A four-year college degree and a certificate in paralegal studies is preferred. Significant prior experience may be substituted for a combination of the educational requirements.
• A minimum of two years litigation experience and the ability to manage complex litigation using current technology is required. Three years of litigation experience is preferred.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Must have a high level of computer literacy including proficiency in MS Office Software Suite and a working knowledge of a document management system.
• Experience using electronic resources and litigation support software is strongly preferred.
• Excellent time management, organizational abilities and strong proofreading skills are also required.

Performance Measures:

• Ability to perform responsibilities as outlined above, both in terms of the quality and quantity of work.
• Ability to meet firm billing requirements.
• Knowledge of litigation support technology utilized in practice area.
• Ability to work independently; degree of motivation and initiative.
• Dependability and cooperation with attorneys, clients and other support staff.
• Ability to meet required deadlines.